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We often take it for granted, not paying it any attention or care until we notice things going 'wrong', but your skin is the very bedrock of a youthful appearance. Healthy, cared for skin can make a person look years younger than they are, while dehydrated, lined or dull skin can add years, if not decades, to your appearance.
When we are young, our skin is plump and healthy, it glows and is visibly dewy and vibrant. This is all down to an abundance of building blocks within the skin - collagen being one of the most important ones.
Collagen, an insoluble protein, is a main component of connective tissue throughout the body and it is present in your bones, tissue, muscles and, yes, your skin. Collagen is located in the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) and helps to form a network of cells called fibroblasts.
Fibroblasts are important as new cells grown on this network, replacing dead skin cells and keeping skin healthy.
When we are young there is an abundance of collagen in our skin, which gives it that radiance and plumpness we associate with a youthful appearance. It helps to hold cells together, creating the bouncy texture we equate with young skin - and spend much of our lives trying to recapture! Our collagen levels deplete as we age, and the skin does not regenerate as effectively as it once did, while dipping oestrogen levels (a hormone is needed for collagen production) also have an impact, particularly for women.
It is well known that collagen is important for plump skin and a whole industry has grown around collagen supplements; everything from daily collagen drinks to powders, although the jury is out on how effective these may be.
Collagen injections are common and various skin treatments, peels and cosmeceutical facials are aimed at either boosting or maintaining levels for as long as possible. Ultrasound therapy can encourage collagen growth and in some cases a controlled chemical peel can also be of benefit.
Stimulating collagen production is often a deliberate side focus of many treatments too - and upping collagen levels is key to the results. In a way, it's like a two-level way of treating the skin - addressing current concerns such as lines or wrinkles and also trying to add more longevity to skin's youthful appearance. For example, a threadlift, which is a treatment to address a sagging face or pronounced jowls, is also designed to stimulate collagen production.
During the procedure, threads made from a dissolvable polylactic acid are inserted into the face. The main function is to pull up sagging skin (and it is an effective means of doing so) but the polylactic acid also helps to stimulate collagen production in the skin.
Other non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as dermal fillers are usually seen as a way to replace lost collagen and volume in the skin, but some can also boost collagen production too, so it is worth talking to your cosmetic surgeon about the best products for you.
There are also lifestyle steps you can take to help preserve collagen levels, and of course the younger you start, the better. If you smoke, try to give up or at least cut down. Smoking is incredibly bad for skin, not to mention your overall health. Protect your skin from the sun too, as UVA rays can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin and damage the collagen support framework of the face. This ultimately leads to a loss of firmness in the skin and in turn, lines and wrinkles.
Free radicals, caused by pollution and UV, also cause the framework of the skin to break down - using products contacting antioxidants and/or retinol can help minimise the damage. Getting more antioxidants into your diet - through leafy veg as well as green tea - can also be a help and if you are considering any treatments, look for those that offer collagen-boosting benefits too.
If you are thinking about a cosmetic surgery procedure, contact my clinic to arrange a consultation, and download my eBook on the Ten-Year Beauty Plan:
We often take it for granted, not paying it any attention or care until we notice things going 'wrong', but your skin is the very bedrock of a youthful appearance. Healthy, cared for skin can make a person look years younger than they are, while dehydrated, lined or dull skin can add years, if not decades, to your appearance.
When we are young, our skin is plump and healthy, it glows and is visibly dewy and vibrant. This is all down to an abundance of building blocks within the skin - collagen being one of the most important ones.
Collagen, an insoluble protein, is a main component of connective tissue throughout the body and it is present in your bones, tissue, muscles and, yes, your skin. Collagen is located in the middle layer of the skin (the dermis) and helps to form a network of cells called fibroblasts.
Fibroblasts are important as new cells grown on this network, replacing dead skin cells and keeping skin healthy.
When we are young there is an abundance of collagen in our skin, which gives it that radiance and plumpness we associate with a youthful appearance. It helps to hold cells together, creating the bouncy texture we equate with young skin - and spend much of our lives trying to recapture! Our collagen levels deplete as we age, and the skin does not regenerate as effectively as it once did, while dipping oestrogen levels (a hormone is needed for collagen production) also have an impact, particularly for women.
It is well known that collagen is important for plump skin and a whole industry has grown around collagen supplements; everything from daily collagen drinks to powders, although the jury is out on how effective these may be.
Collagen injections are common and various skin treatments, peels and cosmeceutical facials are aimed at either boosting or maintaining levels for as long as possible. Ultrasound therapy can encourage collagen growth and in some cases a controlled chemical peel can also be of benefit.
Stimulating collagen production is often a deliberate side focus of many treatments too - and upping collagen levels is key to the results. In a way, it's like a two-level way of treating the skin - addressing current concerns such as lines or wrinkles and also trying to add more longevity to skin's youthful appearance. For example, a threadlift, which is a treatment to address a sagging face or pronounced jowls, is also designed to stimulate collagen production.
During the procedure, threads made from a dissolvable polylactic acid are inserted into the face. The main function is to pull up sagging skin (and it is an effective means of doing so) but the polylactic acid also helps to stimulate collagen production in the skin.
Other non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as dermal fillers are usually seen as a way to replace lost collagen and volume in the skin, but some can also boost collagen production too, so it is worth talking to your cosmetic surgeon about the best products for you.
There are also lifestyle steps you can take to help preserve collagen levels, and of course the younger you start, the better. If you smoke, try to give up or at least cut down. Smoking is incredibly bad for skin, not to mention your overall health. Protect your skin from the sun too, as UVA rays can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin and damage the collagen support framework of the face. This ultimately leads to a loss of firmness in the skin and in turn, lines and wrinkles.
Free radicals, caused by pollution and UV, also cause the framework of the skin to break down - using products contacting antioxidants and/or retinol can help minimise the damage. Getting more antioxidants into your diet - through leafy veg as well as green tea - can also be a help and if you are considering any treatments, look for those that offer collagen-boosting benefits too.
If you are thinking about a cosmetic surgery procedure, contact my clinic to arrange a consultation, and download my eBook on the Ten-Year Beauty Plan:
